The Secret to Germany’s COVID-19 Success: Angela Merkel Is a Scientist

[Coyote]

Maybe there is something to be learned here....

The Secret to Germany’s COVID-19 Success: Angela Merkel Is a Scientist

The chancellor’s rigor in collating information, her honesty in stating what is not yet known, and her composure are paying off.

www.theatlantic.com

BERLIN—Today, we face the global outbreak of a disease that has the potential to catalyze what the historian Eva Schlotheuber terms a “pandemic of the mind.” As misinformation proliferates and lines between fact and fiction are routinely and nonchalantly crossed, world leaders must, now more than ever, illuminate a thoughtful path forward, one reliant on science and evidence-based reasoning. Indeed, many have. One leader goes further still. Trusted by her people to navigate this outbreak’s murky waters, without inciting or succumbing to a pandemic of the mind, one politician is less a commander in chief and more a scientist in chief: Angela Merkel.

....When the Berlin Wall fell in 1989, Merkel, who had by then earned a doctorate in quantum chemistry, was working as a research scientist.

 

[okfine]

Maybe there is something to be learned here....

The Secret to Germany’s COVID-19 Success: Angela Merkel Is a Scientist

The chancellor’s rigor in collating information, her honesty in stating what is not yet known, and her composure are paying off.

www.theatlantic.com

BERLIN—Today, we face the global outbreak of a disease that has the potential to catalyze what the historian Eva Schlotheuber terms a “pandemic of the mind.” As misinformation proliferates and lines between fact and fiction are routinely and nonchalantly crossed, world leaders must, now more than ever, illuminate a thoughtful path forward, one reliant on science and evidence-based reasoning. Indeed, many have. One leader goes further still. Trusted by her people to navigate this outbreak’s murky waters, without inciting or succumbing to a pandemic of the mind, one politician is less a commander in chief and more a scientist in chief: Angela Merkel.

....When the Berlin Wall fell in 1989, Merkel, who had by then earned a doctorate in quantum chemistry, was working as a research scientist.

I admire her.
Here is a video for you:

 

[cnm]

Being an effective leader is more important during this pandemic than a science education.

 

[cnm]

???
Why the surprise? Ardern doesn't have any science degrees I'm aware of.

Coronavirus tracked: the latest figures as the pandemic spreads | Free to read

 

[Olde Europe]

Maybe there is something to be learned here....

The Secret to Germany’s COVID-19 Success: Angela Merkel Is a Scientist

The chancellor’s rigor in collating information, her honesty in stating what is not yet known, and her composure are paying off.

www.theatlantic.com

BERLIN—Today, we face the global outbreak of a disease that has the potential to catalyze what the historian Eva Schlotheuber terms a “pandemic of the mind.” As misinformation proliferates and lines between fact and fiction are routinely and nonchalantly crossed, world leaders must, now more than ever, illuminate a thoughtful path forward, one reliant on science and evidence-based reasoning. Indeed, many have. One leader goes further still. Trusted by her people to navigate this outbreak’s murky waters, without inciting or succumbing to a pandemic of the mind, one politician is less a commander in chief and more a scientist in chief: Angela Merkel.

....When the Berlin Wall fell in 1989, Merkel, who had by then earned a doctorate in quantum chemistry, was working as a research scientist.

Yep, having somewhat of an understanding of science does help, no doubt. But, let's compare, shall we?

Merkel moved to shut down Germany when there were 18,600 confirmed cases and 55 deaths.

Ardern moved to shut down New Zealand when there were 205 confirmed cases and zero deaths.

In order to get it and do what is necessary to curtail a highly contagious, lethal pathogen - for which there is no cure and no vaccine - from spreading, one needs just two things: Understanding what "exponential growth" means, and care for people over money sacks and their short-term gains. Here's the result, so far:

Germany has 145,000 cases and 4,900 deaths.

New Zealand has 1,400 cases and 13 deaths.

That's a measly 100 times the number of (confirmed) infected, and 375 times the number of fatalities.

That's the difference between timely, resolute and caring action, and dithering for weeks in the face of backlash from the side of the money sacks trying to protect their short-term gains to the detriment of, you know, people. Yes, there are cases worse than Germany. Had Merkel followed the science and basic logic, AND cared, she would have matched Ardern's record. But she didn't. Not by a very long shot.

Oh, and just in case, Merkel isn't done yet. Just as in the sovereign debt crisis following Bush's wholesale arson of the world economy, she heads toward another - ANOTHER - nod to the German money sacks, all but guaranteeing that Italy and Spain suffer maximum economic damage from the Covid-19 crisis, and, from that debilitating pandemic, head right into the next sovereign debt crisis. Because the last time was so much fun.

All in all, Germany fared comparably well not because of Merkel, primarily, but because of a resilient healthcare system. Sure, there's worse, but let's not pretend she wouldn't fiddle while people are dying, and Rome and Madrid (and Athens) are burning.

 

[luchitociencia]

It can't be... so far it appears all those countries enjoy of more healthy people than here.

The virus has affected perhaps ten times the registered cases, and the great majority of those cases were registered because people felt sick and went to a clinic or hospital to have a test.

This means there were more people with the virus in other countries who didn't feel very sick when they were attacked by the virus, perhaps because their immune system is stronger due to their better health.

Somebody must make a review of that chart and explain it.

 

[cnm]

That Italy's population has a high percentage of elderly smokers is a theme I've seen repeated in a few places on this message bored. Whether that is true and whether it is a significant contributing factor to Italy's experience I do not know.